U. S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) is defending his choice of a chief of staff: a former co-worker who, in the interim, lobbied for Monsanto and Land O’Lakes.
Davis, responding to opponent Ann Callis’ claims in Thursday’s Bernard Schoenburg political column in the State Journal-Register, says it’s “ironic” that a campaign for a woman is criticizing Davis – on equal pay grounds — for hiring Jen Daulby, an accomplished woman.
“She’s just doing a tremendous job,” Davis says. “To see her brought into the political attacks … it’s just unfortunate, but it’s part of politics.”
Daulby’s hire raised questions in Callis’s camp about whether Daulby was hired because of her position on issues also important to Davis, such as school lunch legislation.
But Davis says it’s local school superintendents in his districts, and not industry lobbyists, who influence his vote on such matters.